The Society is administered by a committee of 9 elected members, who are also
Management Trustees of the charity. The committee has the power to co-opt additional
personnel to fill vacant places and does so as and when there is a need. Officers of the
Society comprise Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Meets Secretary, Social Secretary,
Editor, Tackle Master, Librarian. Some of the posts have assistants.

2. HISTORICAL

The CSS was originally formed in 1956 as the Cerberus Caving Club, but the following
year changed it's name to the existing one which was felt more suited to the scientific
leanings of the group. Towards the end of the 1950s the club took on the responsibility
for access control to all caves discovered in Fairy Cave Quarry, and
the use of the cottages on quarry property as a headquarters and hostel was arranged.

The cottage at Fairy Cave Quarry remained the Societys headquarters for over thirty
years, until 1987 when circumstances dictated that alternative premises were found.
A
search located a site nearby at Midway and over the next year, Larkshall,
a purpose designed headquarters and hostel was built. This was formally opened in August
1988.

The club is very active and a full member of the
British
Caving Association, the Council of Southern Caving Clubs, the British Cave Research
Association, the British Mountaineering Council
and a shareholder in the Charterhouse
Caving Company Ltd. It is
also a Registered Charity No 274126.

3. CHARITABLE STATUS

As a direct result of the work in respect of Fairy Cave Quarry, the Charity Commission
registered the Society as a Charity in 1977. Charitable status has a number of advantages
including the possibility of applying to grant making Trusts for financial aid towards
specific projects, exemption from certain taxes, and the facility to accept
subscriptions as 'Gift Aid'.

Gift Aid is of great financial benefits to the Society. By
completing a simple form agreeing to pay a specified figure annually, the Society can reclaim from the Inland Revenue the tax paid on the sum before
deduction of income tax. This
currently amounts to a financial gain of 28p for every
£1 paid. The
agreement is not legally binding so there is no commitment to continue
paying. All members are therefore asked to complete these forms.

4. ACCESS TO CAVES

The Society controls access to all cave and archaeological
sites within the Harridge Wood area nature reserves owned by the Somerset
Wildlife Trust. Permits are essential and are available for issue to
members and guest.

The Society also controls access, along with other clubs in the Charterhouse Caving Company,
to caves on land owned by Somerset Wildlife Trust and Bristol Water in the Charterhouse
area. Keys to certain other restricted access caves are also held.

Cave keys held by the Society are available to all members subject to the relevant
entry restrictions. They are stored at Larkshall and issued by the Duty Warden.

All visitors to caves in the Charterhouse area and the
Harridge Wood reserves must be in possession of a
valid
permit. Annual permits are issued to members. Guests are issued with Temporary Permits,
valid for 14 days for Charterhouse caves and for a weekend
for Harridge Wood. There is a small charge for a
temporary permit. It is the responsibility of the trip
leader to ensure that all members of the party have a current permit with them at the time
of the visit.

Cave keys are available for loan to non members upon payment of a deposit and trip fee.

In addition to the caves listed above, trips can also be arranged into others with
restricted access. The Society has leaders for
Upper Flood Swallet, St Cuthberts Swallet, Charterhouse Cave,
Reservoir Hole, Grebe Swallet, Loxton Cavern, Ogof Fynnon Ddu I, and Dan-Yr-Ogof. As a member club of the
British Caving Association bookings can also be made for all caves controlled by the
Council of Northern Caving Clubs. This should normally be done through the
Meets Secretary.

Information on procedures for access to many caves can be
found on the CSCC web site.
The Secretary and the Meets Secretary are always willing to advise members
in case of difficulty.

The Society has a strong Mountaineering Section which is a member of the British
Mountaineering Club (BMC). To become a member of the section an additional membership fee
is payable. There are a number of benefits of joining the Section including liability
insurance cover, individual copy of the BMC magazine, use of various climbing huts around
the country etc.

6. ORGANISED TRIPS

Generally there is little need to arrange 'official' caving trips as members staying at
the cottage find it easier to organise their own, and there is usually someone to go
caving with. However an irregular programme of weekend meets to other areas is arranged,
and details of these are published in the Societys' Journal and NewsSheet.
All members are
welcome to attend these and if interested should contact the relevant person.

In addition to the normal caving trips to other areas of Britain, a foreign expedition
is often arranged. This can either take the form of a serious expedition, or simply a
holiday; and in the past has included trips to Morocco, Czechoslovakia and France. Further
details are available from the Meets Secretary.

7. DIGS

Digging for new caves, or to extend existing ones, is an important and integral part of
caving. It is especially important when it is realised that there would be very few
accessible caves for people to visit if it were not for a number of cavers who dedicate
much of their time to this activity.

As with most clubs the Society is active in this field, and members are currently
working at various sites including Stout Slocker, Beacon Slocker West,
Larkshall Slocker, Maesbury Swallet, Pang Slocker,
Timber Hole,
Little London, Withybrook Slocker and a
number of sites in Ashwick Valley and at Blakes Farm. Most digs are
labour intensive and involve a
considerable amount of work. Members are encouraged to take an interest in club digs and
offer their assistance whenever possible. There are regular digging trips evenings midweek
and also at weekends. Enquire for further details.

The Society has a Rescue Team, consisting of members local to Mendip, and organised by
the Rescue Team Leader. An annual rescue practice is carried out whenever possible and all
members are encouraged to attend this to gain experience in, and understanding of, rescue
techniques.

9. TACKLE

The Society maintains a store of tackle primarily of rope and ladder.
This is available
for loan to all members. Enough equipment for normal Mendip trips is kept at
Larkshall. Members wishing to borrow larger amounts of
gear, or keep any for an extended period, should contact the Tackle Master.
Members are
expected to replace lost or damaged equipment.

A considerable amount of S.R.T. rope is also owned by the club, but due to the
particular problems related to the care and maintenance of this, it is not available for
general loan. The rope is generally used only on official expeditions and Yorkshire meets,
and only where one of the 'Rope Wardens", appointed by the committee, is present. All
members participating in these trips are required to pay a tackle fee as a contribution
towards the cost of replacement of rope.

The club headquarters, Larkshall, is situated
near the Midway crossroads, not far from Fairy Cave Quarry.
This is available for use by members and guests with few restrictions, providing the Rules
are adhered to. Anyone intending to bring a large party is asked to book in advance to
avoid overcrowding.

The Society provides third party Public Liability Insurance
through the BCA which
also includes member to member cover. The insurance offers
the necessary protection to landowners and is essential for access to many caves
nationally. It also indemnifies landowners with whom we have access
agreements such as Bristol Water and the Somerset Wildlife Trust.
Cover is provided for caving and all directly related activities.

Members of the Mountaineering Section also have liability cover when
engaged in climbing, walking, mountaineering activities.

As no form of personal insurance
cover is given, members are advised to seek their own. Policies of this sort are widely
available and the Secretary is willing to advise in case of difficulty.

12. JOURNAL / NEWS SHEET

The Society publishes a high quality Journal. This is supplied
free to members. The object of the Journal is to keep the membership informed of all club
and general caving news, and to publish general and scientific articles of interest to
cavers. All members are welcome, and indeed encouraged, to submit articles to the Editor
for publication. As well as the Journal an irregular News Sheet is also published.

In addition to the Journal, the Society also publishes an irregular series of special
publications entitled Occasional Publication and Occasional Bulletin. All those published
to date are currently available and additional ones are in preparation.
The committee is
willing to consider publishing any material written by members, and welcomes any
suggestions in this respect.

14. LIBRARY

The Society maintains a library which is situated at Larkshall.
The library is not
large and consists mainly of other club journals, newsletters etc. Through necessity items
are not normally available for loan since in the past less than 50% have been returned.
The Librarian is however willing to photocopy any specifically requested articles at cost
price. Should a particular item not be available, the Librarian would be glad to offer
advice on where it might be obtained or viewed.

The major source of library material is from publication exchanges with other clubs. We
have also been fortunate in the past to receive a number of donations and members are
encouraged to give unwanted material to the library.

Regular social events are arranged. These are wide ranging and varied, in the past
having included ceilidhs, discos, skittle evenings, barbecues and an annual dinner. These
events bring a large number of members together and assist in people getting to know one
another. Details of forthcoming events can also be found in the Journal and Newssheet..

16. SERVICES TO MEMBERS

In addition to the normal services to members as listed above, the Society also offers
various items for sale at times. These have included badges, sweatshirts, equipment,
surveys and publications.

Finally, the committee is always willing to consider, and if possible, implement,
suggestions that will be of benefit to members.